Integrated long absorbent article having stepped panty fastening adhesive

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, catamenials or adult incontinence inserts which are used in combination with undergarments. The absorbent articles according to the present invention have a minimum length of 255 mm, i.e., they are relatively long absorbent articles, and they are provided with a fastening adhesive to attach them to the undergarment during use. In particular, the present invention relates to such absorbent articles which are made from several layers which are joined to each other by integrating adhesive connections. The fastening adhesive is provided with an asymmetry in respect to the longitudinal direction and at least one of the integrating adhesive connections is at least co-extensive with fastening adhesive.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as sanitarynapkins, catamenials or adult incontinence inserts which are used incombination with undergarments. The absorbent articles according to thepresent invention have a minimum length of 255 mm, i.e. they arerelatively long absorbent articles, and they are provided with afastening adhesive to attach them to the undergarment during use. Inparticular the present invention relates to such absorbent articleswhich are made from several layers which are joined to each other byintegrating adhesive connections. A fastening adhesive is provided withan asymmetry in respect to the longitudinal direction and at least oneof the integrating adhesive connections is at least co-extensive withthe fastening adhesive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fastening adhesive for sanitary napkins are well-known in the art.Usually they cover part of the garment facing surface of sanitarynapkins. The adhesive allows improved fixation of the napkins to theundergarment when applying the product and during use.

The dimensions of such panty fastening adhesives are influenced byseveral factors. One aspect is that they should cover as large an areaas possible in order to provide firm attachment of the napkin to theundergarment. On the other hand the adhesive must not extend to areaswhich could possibly attach to the skin of the wearer since that wouldcause an unacceptable discomfort when using the product. Therefore, whenconsidering the crotch portion of an undergarment typically productshaving been provided with an adhesive along the longitudinal length ofthe sanitary napkin such that the adhesive cannot extend beyond thesmallest crotch width of the undergarment minus a certain safety marginto allow variation in placement of the napkin in the undergarmentdepending on user accuracy.

The other aspect when deciding on the panty fastening adhesivedimensions is how to provide the panty fastening adhesive onto thegarment facing surface of a sanitary napkin in a mass productionprocess. Many processes have been considered in this respect. EP-A-745386 discloses printing of panty fastening adhesives in order to allowany shape of panty fastening adhesives to be provided. However, it isstill most common to provide panty fastening adhesives by continuouscoating or continuous spraying. The panty fastening adhesive is appliedwhile the sanitary napkin moves on a band or belt in longitudinaldirection. This automatically results in straight adhesive dimensions,which, when combined with an on-off switching of the adhesiveapplication system, creates a rectangular stripe, or a series ofrectangular stripes, on the garment facing surface of a sanitary napkin.By default these stripes cannot reach into a region of the sanitarynapkin which extends beyond the smallest transverse dimension, i.e.width, of a sanitary napkin. In practical terms the adhesive needs to beeven smaller in order to not extend to the peripheral edges of thesanitary napkin in the crotch region since this is also known to causeproblems in comfort for the user, compare for example WO 92/04000. InU.S. Pat. No. 4,690,680 a rectangular adhesive design is suggested inwhich the adhesive is wider in the front and rear of the article andless wide in the center.

Hence it has become usual to provide sanitary napkins with a single ormultitude of rectangular longitudinal stripes of panty fasteningadhesive on their garment facing surface. This is acceptable forrelatively short sanitary napkins of less than 255 mm, typically of less240 mm. However, sanitary napkins extending along a larger length alsoare exposed to more variation in the forces they are exerted to (e.g.they extend from the crotch region beyond the public mons or beyond theanus into the buttocks region) and hence would benefit from betterfixation to the undergarment, especially at the ends.

Another reason for not exceeding a maximum width in the crotch area of apanty fastening adhesive (even if a sanitary napkin would allow toprovide an adhesive area wider than this certain width) is that thecrotch width of undergarments is limited and hence providing adhesivebeyond this crotch width is not useful but rather counter productivesince it may expose adhesive to the skin of the wearer. This, however,is not the case outside the crotch region of the undergarment where theundergarment flares out into the front portion and into the rear portioncovering the buttocks.

Based on the above an objective of the present invention is to providelong sanitary napkins, and in particular those which are asymmetricallyshaped, i.e. having a longer and/or wider front or rear portion with abetter attachment to the undergarment without violating the fundamentalconditions of comfort (i.e. not extending beyond the crotch width of theundergarment with the adhesive) and manufacturing simplicity, forexample by use of adhesive coating or spraying with no more variationthan an on/off-switching mechanism.

The above has lead to the development of a panty fastening adhesivewhich is wider in one of the front or rear portion than in the center asdisclosed in European application 97119753. This creates however anotherproblem namely that the transmission of forces internally between thelayers of the article needs to be sufficient to hold the whole articlein place at least across the panty facing adhesive region. This is nowachieved by the means of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to absorbent articles such as a sanitarynapkin for use in an undergarment having a garment facing surface andhaving a longitudinal centerline and a transverse centerlineperpendicular to the longitudinal centerline which define a longitudinaldirection and a transverse direction. The sanitary napkin comprises 3regions, a first region in the center which has a length of at least 40mm to cover the area on a wearer between the perineum and the mostforward point of the labia majora during use. A second region extends inlongitudinal direction on one side of the first region and a thirdregion which extends on the opposite side of the first region. Thesecond region is preferably longer than the third region such that thesanitary napkin is worn in an asymmetric fashion. The length inlongitudinal direction of the sanitary napkin is at least 255 mm,preferably 270 mm and most preferably 300 mm or more.

The garment facing surface of the sanitary napkin comprises an adhesivefor attachment of the sanitary napkin to an undergarment. The adhesiveextends from the second region through the first region into the thirdregion and has a width dimension in transverse direction at least in onepoint of the second region which is larger than the width in either thefirst or the third region. More particularly the adhesive in the firstand third region is provided in a rectangular pattern relative to thecenterlines and has a width in transverse direction between 35 and 60 mmwhile the adhesive in at least one point of the second region has awidth in transverse direction of more than the width in the first andsecond region, preferably in the range 45 to 100 mm. In an even morepreferable embodiment the adhesive in the second region is alsorectangular relative to the centerlines.

The absorbent article comprises at least three components a generallyliquid permeable topsheet, a generally liquid impermeable backsheet, andan absorbent core between the topsheet and the backsheet. Each of thecomponents of the article has a garment facing surface and a wearerfacing surface and at least one of the wearer facing surfaces of thecomponents are joint at least partially by adhesive to the garmentfacing surface of an immediately adjacent component. This forms anintegrating connection between the surfaces which integrating connectionremains intact during usual use of the article. In particular accordingto the present invention at least one of the integrating connections isat least co-extensive with the panty fastening adhesive on the garmentfacing side of the article. In a preferred embodiment according to thepresent invention all components from the absorbent core layer to thebacksheet are attached to each other with integrating connections whichare all at least co-extensive with the fastening adhesive. In an evenmore preferred embodiment according to the present invention which willprovide most controlled attachment of the article to the undergarmentall component layers of the article are provided with integratingconnections between the layers and all of these integrating connectionsare at least co-extensive with the panty fastening adhesive.

In another embodiment according to the present invention the absorbentarticle also comprises wings which are well-known in the art. The wingsextend a length of at least 80% of the central first region of thesanitary napkin and preferably extend no more than 20% of the length ofthe third region into the third region while even more preferable thewings do not extend more than 50% of the length of the second regioninto the second region.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the garment facing surface of a sanitarynapkin of the prior art.

FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a sanitary napkin according tothe present invention with a fastening adhesive on the garment facingsurface of the napkin.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention with afastening adhesive on the garment facing surface with differentdimensions on one side of the longitudinal centerline as a firstalternative and on the other side of the longitudinal centerline as asecond alternative.

FIG. 4 shows another alternative embodiment according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention an absorbent article for use incombination with an undergarment has an adhesive for attachment of thearticle to the undergarment. The design of the adhesive is particularlyadjusted to the dimensions of the article and is asymmetric inlongitudinal direction and in use reaches into a region in theundergarment distant from the crotch center. The layered components ofthe articles are attached to each other to integrate them during use.

In particular, sanitary napkins, catamenials and panty liners whetherused for incontinence discharges or menstrual or other discharges areconsidered to be susceptible to the present invention. Typically sucharticles are of layered construction with each layer or group of layersand the article having a garment facing surface which is oriented toface in the direction of a garment during use of the article and awearer facing surface facing in the opposite direction. Typically sucharticles comprise a liquid pervious topsheet forming the wearer facingsurface of the article, an absorbent core and a breathable backsheetforming the garment facing surface of the article. The absorbent core isinterposed between the topsheet and the backsheet.

Absorbent Article Components The Topsheet

In general, the topsheet should have good liquid retention to maintain adry surface and thereby keep the skin of the wearer dry; the absorbentcore needs to provide enough absorbent capacity and the backsheet shouldprevent wet through (liquid permeability) to retain the absorbed fluidwhile preferably being breathable.

The topsheet is compliant, soft feeling, and non-irritating to thewearer's skin. The topsheet also can have elastic characteristicsallowing it to be stretched in one or two directions in portions of thetopsheet or throughout its extension. Further, the topsheet is fluidpervious permitting fluids (e.g., menses and/or urine) to readilypenetrate through its thickness. A suitable topsheet can be manufacturedfrom a wide range of materials such as woven and non woven materials;polymeric materials such as apertured formed thermoplastic films,apertured plastic films, and hydroformed thermoplastic films; andthermoplastic scrims. Suitable woven and non woven materials can becomprised of natural fibers (e.g., wood or cotton fibers), syntheticfibers (e.g., polymeric fibers such as polyester, polypropylene, orpolyethylene fibers) or from a combination of natural and syntheticfibers or bi-/multi-component fibers.

Preferred topsheets for use in the present invention are typicallyselected from high loft nonwoven topsheets and apertured formed filmtopsheets. Apertured formed films are especially preferred for thetopsheets because they are pervious to body exudates and yet nonabsorbent and have a reduced tendency to allow fluids to pass backthrough and rewet the wearers skin. Thus, the surface of the formed filmthat is in contact with the wearer remains dry, thereby reducing bodysoiling and creating a more comfortable feel for the wearer. Suitableformed films are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,929,135; 4,324,246;4,342,314; 4,463,045; and 5,006,394. Particularly preferred microapertured formed film topsheets are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,609,518 and 4,629,643. A preferred topsheet for the present inventioncomprises the formed film described in one or more of the above patentsand marketed on sanitary napkins by The Procter & Gamble Company ofCincinnati, Ohio as “DRI-WEAVE”.

Topsheets having not a homogeneous distribution of liquid passage waysare also contemplated by the present invention such as for example onlya portion of the topsheet comprising liquid passage ways or a film withapertures of various sizes. Typically such topsheets would have theliquid passage ways oriented such that they result in a centrallypermeable and peripherally impermeable topsheet for liquids.

The wearer facing surface of the formed film topsheet can be hydrophilicso as to help liquid to transfer though the topsheet faster than if thebody surface was not hydrophilic. In a preferred embodiment, surfactantis incorporated into the polymeric materials of the formed film topsheetsuch as is described in PCT-publication WO 93/09741. Alternatively, thewearer facing surface of the topsheet can be made hydrophilic bytreating it with a surfactant such as is described in U.S. Pat. No.4,950,254.

Another alternative are so called hybrid topsheets which incorporatefibrous and film like structures particularly useful embodiments of suchhybrid topsheets are disclosed in PCT publications WO 93/09744; WO93/11725 or WO 93/11726.

The topsheet typically extends across the whole of the absorbentstructure and outside the area coextensive with the absorbent structure.

When referring to the topsheet a multi layer structure or a mono layerstructure is contemplated. The hybrid topsheet mentioned above is such amulti layer design but other multi layer topsheets such as primary andsecondary topsheet designs are also considered.

The Core

Positioned in fluid communication with, and typically underlying thetopsheet is the absorbent core. The absorbent core provides fluidstorage and distribution function and can also comprise multiple layers.The core can comprise any usual absorbent material or combinationsthereof. It preferably comprises absorbent gelling materials usuallyreferred to as “hydrogel”, “superabsorbent”, hydrocolloid” materials incombination with suitable carriers.

Suitable absorbent gelling materials for use herein will most oftencomprise a substantially water-insoluble, slightly cross-linked,partially neutralised, polymeric gelling material. This material forms ahydrogel upon contact with water. Such polymer materials can be preparedfrom polymerizable, unsaturated, acid-containing monomers, such asacrylic acid, which are well known in the art.

Suitable carriers include materials which are conventionally utilised inabsorbent structures such as natural, modified or synthetic fibers,particularly modified or non-modified cellulose fibers, in the form offluff and/or tissues. Suitable carriers can be used together with theabsorbent gelling material, however, they can also be used alone or incombinations. Most preferred are tissue or tissue laminates in thecontext of this article.

An embodiment of the core, particularly useful in the application of thepresent invention, comprises a double layer tissue laminate which can beformed by folding the tissue onto itself. These layers can be joined toeach other. Absorbent gelling material or other optional material can becomprised between the layers.

The absorbent core can include optional components normally present inabsorbent webs such as odor control agents, in particular suitablezeolites or silicas.

The Backsheet

The backsheet primarily prevents the exudates absorbed and contained inthe absorbent core from wetting articles that contact the absorbentproduct such as underpants, pants, pyjamas and undergarments. Thebacksheet is preferably impervious to liquids (e.g. menses and/or urine)and usually manufactured from a thin plastic film.

The backsheet typically extends across the whole of the absorbent coreand can extend onto and form part of the topsheet by folding around theabsorbent core. Thereby a topsheet configuration as disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 4,342,314, column 16, lines 47-62 can be achieved without therequirement to selectively aperture the topsheet.

Preferably, the backsheet also provides breathability to the absorbentarticle by being at least water vapour permeable, preferably airpermeable. The backsheet can be a laminate material e.g. of acombination of microporous film and/or non-woven material, and/orapertured formed film. Breathability if desired can be limited to theperiphery or the center of the backsheet or it can be across the wholebacksheet.

The Panty Fastening Adhesive

The sanitary napkin comprises an adhesive area on its garment facingsurface which adhesive is protected by a cover means which cover meansis released prior to use of the article. The adhesive area need not befully covered by adhesive but may for example be provided byhomogeniously distributed adhesive filaments leaving small areasuncovered between the filaments. Alternatively the “adhesive area”according to the present invention may be provided by sub portions ofadhesive and is then defined as the area formed by the shortest possibleline encircling all sub portions, however excluding those in the wings.

As can be seen in the prior art sanitary napkin (20) of FIG. 1 thegarment facing side (40) which typically is provided by a liquidimpermeable backsheet of such a sanitary napkin, comprises an adhesive(50). In general sanitary napkins have a longitudinal centerline (L) anda transverse centerline (T). In the prior art sanitary napkin of FIG. 1the transverse centerline (T) is located in the middle of the sanitarynapkin, i.e. it separates the sanitary napkin into two halves which areapproximately of equal length in longitudinal direction. The shownsanitary napkin is also symmetrical in longitudinal direction to thetransverse centerline (T). In contrast a sanitary napkin according tothe present invention such as the sanitary napkins shown in FIGS. 2, 3or 4 has a transverse centerline (T) which separates a napkin into twohalves which are substantially not identical in length.

The transverse centerline (T) is located in a central or first region ofa sanitary napkin. This first region has an extension in longitudinaldirection sufficient and intended to cover the area on a wearer betweenthe perineum and the most forward point of the labia majora. Based onmedical studies this varies between about 40 mm and 80 mm on averagewomen depending on sexual activity, child birth and other factors. Hencethe minimum length of the first region is 40 mm but would preferably beat least 60 mm, more preferably at least 80 mm and most preferably atleast 112 mm. The transverse centerline separates the first region intotwo halves in longitudinal direction which are substantially of equallength. This is obviously the case for conventional sanitary napkins ofthe prior art or for sanitary napkins of the present invention.

Sanitary napkins having a first region (1) according to the abovedefinition also have a second (2) and a third (3) region outside thefirst region which are extending from the first region (1) to thelongitudinal ends of the sanitary napkin. As can be seen from the FIGS.2, 3 and 4 sanitary napkins according to the present invention have asecond region (2) which is longer than the third region (3).

A panty fastening adhesive (50) in prior art sanitary napkins which arelongitudinally symmetrical as shown in FIG. 1 will naturally extend anequal distance from said first region (1) into said second (2) and saidthird region (3). In contrast sanitary napkins according to the presentinvention have an undergarment adhesive attachment (50) which preferablyextends in longitudinal direction further from the first region (1) intothe second region (2) then it extends from the first region into thethird region (3), as shown in the FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

According to the present invention the width in transverse direction ofthe adhesive in the second region (2) is wider in at least one pointthan the width of the adhesive in the first (1) and in the third region(3). FIG. 2 shows a particularly preferred shape of adhesive in whichthe adhesive is provided in a rectangular pattern, which is easy toprovide when continuously manufacturing sanitary napkins in longitudinaldirection. Two alternative shapes satisfying the width requirementaccording to the present invention are shown in FIG. 3 on the right andleft side of the longitudinal axis. Both of the designs of the adhesive(50) shown in FIG. 3 also comprise non-rectangular portions. Anotherpreferred embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 in which the wider portion ofthe adhesive (50) in the second region (2) is provided in a semi-ovalshape.

It is also possible that the adhesive (50) in the wider portion of theadhesive in the second region (2) of sanitary napkins according to thepresent invention may comprise a different quantity of adhesive than theadhesive in the first or second region. For example the pattern shown inFIG. 2 can be provided by coating an adhesive in longitudinal directionthrough three coating means (e.g. slot coaters or spray nozzles). Onecoating means providing a central rectangular area (54) extending fromthe third (3) through the first (1) to the second (2) region (indicatedby dashes in the second region (2)) and being similar to the adhesiveshown in FIG. 1 for prior art sanitary napkins. In addition the areas ofadhesive (54) extending beyond the rectangular portion (52) in thesecond region (2) of the sanitary napkin are provided by two additionalcoating means which may provide the same amount of adhesive per area ormay provide a different amount of adhesive per area than the centralcoating means. In principle it would also be possible to providedifferent adhesives through the different coating means. In this contextalso stripes of adhesive instead of a completely coated surface could beprovided. Then the adhesive area shown in FIG. 2 is the area inside theshortest possible line encircling all sup portions, excluding adhesiveon the wings (not shown in FIG. 2). The same applies to FIGS. 3 and 4.

In an alternative way of providing the adhesive to the garment facingsurface (40) of a sanitary napkin according to the present invention itwould also be possible to provide the whole area in which the adhesiveis wider in the second region (2) by a separate coating means while theadhesive in the first and third region of the sanitary napkin isprovided by conventional adhesive coating means such as those used forprior art sanitary napkins according to FIG. 1.

As noted above sanitary napkins according to the present invention arepreferably provided with flaps or wings extending beyond theundergarment crotch width and being folded around the undergarmentcrotch so as protect the undergarment side edges. Sanitary napkins withwings are shown in the preferred embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 whilewings are not mandatory but only preferred in the context of the presentinvention since they provide additional fixation of sanitary napkins,particularly very long sanitary napkins.

Preferably as indicated in the background discussion above the width ofthe adhesive in the first region is such that it extends close to theside edges of the napkin as shown in FIG. 4.

The adhesive for fastening the article in an undergarment can be anyadhesive useful for the desired application. Usually it is a pressuresensitive adhesive which can be applied in any way usual in the art. Inparticularly, the adhesive application can be by use of contactapplication means, such as printing or scraping or slot coating, or bynon contact application, such as curtain coating, spraying or spiraling.The adhesive can be coated as hot melt or from a cold solution, eitherto the garment facing surface of the article or to the cover means whichthen carries it to the article.

The adhesive needs to be adapted to the desired application, e.g. itneeds to support breathability if it is used in a breathable sanitarynapkin. The adhesion force of the adhesive to the undergarment facingsurface of the article needs to be larger or equal to that adhesionforce which it has to the cover means. Also it is desirable to have anadhesive which does not separate during use from the article and leavesadhesive traces in the undergarment when separating the article from theundergarment.

Joining the Components of the Article Together

According to the present invention the absorbent article components arejoined to each other in an integrating fashion. The objective being toensure that the forces in a direction perpendicular to the layeredcomponents can be transmitted between the layers of the components suchthat all components of the article are held to the undergarment in acontrolled fashion through the improved panty fastening adhesivedisposition.

In order to achieve this the wearer facing surface and the garmentfacing surface of the layers of the components are joined to each otherby an adhesive connection. The adhesive can be any which is usual in theart and its application can also be any conventional application. Thepreferred applications are the same as mentioned above for the pantyfastening adhesive. This adhesive connection does not have to extendacross the whole surface area of the article but in order to provide itsintegrating function needs to extend at least throughout the same areaas the panty fastening adhesive. Hence an integrating connection betweenlayers is achieved when providing an adhesive connection between layersof the components of the article which connection is co-extensive withor extending beyond the panty fastening adhesive.

The benefit of this integrating connection is already achieved whenproviding at least some of the layers of the components of the articlewith such integrating connections. However it is most preferable thatthe components providing the majority of the structural stiffness orstability of the article are integrated with the panty fasteningadhesive through integrating adhesive connections. Usually thestructural stiffness or stability of the article is primarily providedby the absorbent core component of the article and hence it is preferredthat all layers between the backsheet and the absorbent core areintegrated in an area co-extensive with or extending beyond the pantyfastening adhesive. Even more preferred would of course be a design inwhich all layers of the article are provided with an adhesive connectionwhich integrates them in an area at least co-extensive with the pantyfastening adhesive.

An additional benefit other than control of the components of thearticle in respect to the undergarment during use is the handling of theabsorbent article when manipulating it from the condition in which it isprovided to the wearer into the condition in which it is used. In otherwords article without the integrating connections according to thepresent invention have a higher probability of being improperly handledsuch as for example crumpled or deformed already upon placement in theundergarment.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the aboveexplanations and embodiments are disclosed for the purpose ofillustration and enablement but that the present invention is defined bythe limits given in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disposable absorbent article (20) for use in anundergarment comprising at least three components a generally liquidpermeable topsheet a generally liquid impermeable backsheet joined tosaid topsheet an absorbent core between said topsheet and saidbacksheet, said article and each of said components having a garmentfacing surface and a wearer facing surface, said article (20) having alongitudinal centerline (L) and a transverse centerline (T)perpendicular to said longitudinal centerline (L), said article (20)comprising three regions (1,2,3) along said longitudinal centerline (L),a first region (1) which includes said transverse centerline (T) andwhich has a length of at least 40 mm to cover in use the area on awearer along said longitudinal direction between the perineum and themost forward point of the labia majora, a second region (2) whichextends along said longitudinal direction on a first side of said firstregion (1), and a third region (3) which extends along said longitudinaldirection on a second side opposite said first side of said firstregion, said second region (2) being longer than said third region (3),said article (20) having a length of at least 270 mm, in longitudinaldirection, said garment facing side (40) of said article (20) comprisinga fastening adhesive (50) for attachment to said undergarment, saidarticle (20) being characterized in that said fastening adhesive (50)extends from said second region (2) through said first region (1) intosaid third region (3) and in that the fastening adhesive (50) width intransverse direction at least at one point of said second region (2) islarger than the fastening adhesive (50) width in transverse direction atone point of said first region (1) and of said third region (3).
 2. Anarticle (20) according to claim 1 characterized in that all componentsof said article from and including said absorbent core to said backsheetare provided with integrating connections and that all these integratingconnections are at least coextensive with said fastening adhesive (50).3. An article (20) according to claim 1 characterized in that saidfastening adhesive (50) in said first region (1) and third region (3) isprovided in a rectangular pattern relative to said centerlines (L, T)and has a width in transverse direction in the range of 35 mm to 60 mmin said first region (1) and said third region (3) and said fasteningadhesive (50) has a width in transverse direction in the range of 45 mmto 110 mm at least at one point in said second region (2).
 4. An article(20) according to claim 1 characterized in that said fastening adhesive(50) in said second region (2) is provided in a rectangular patternrelative to said centerlines (L, T).
 5. An article (20) according toclaim 1 characterized in that said article (20) further comprises wings(25) having an extension in longitudinal direction of at least 80% ofthe length of said first region (1) and extending at least within saidfirst region (1), preferably not extending more than 20% of the lengthof said third region (3) into said third region (3) and more preferablynot extending more than 15% of the length of said second region (2) intosaid second region (2).
 6. An article (50) according to claim 1 which isa sanitary napkin.